Ipe wood is an excellent choice as far as tropical decking materials go. Not only is it durable, long-lasting, and available in high grades, it is renowned for coming in a variety of beautiful color choices. In this article, we will wrap up our series on Ipe (see Parts 1 & 2) by taking a […]
Lumber
The Natural Appeal of Walnut Wood
It’s no secret that the McIlvain family has a long history in the U.S. lumber industry that extends back to before our country was even a nation. But did you know that throughout the Colonial era, Walnut lumber was also exported? British and European artisans were quick to notice this native species’ distinctively appealing hue […]
Good News for Rainforests: Green Building with Exotic Lumber, Part 1
“Leave the Rainforests alone!” and “Stop buying exotic lumber!” seem to be the status quo when it comes to making green choices in some circles. But in reality, such advice couldn’t be further from truly accomplishing environmentally friendly aims. You might say it’s as green as a blue moon. While so-called “green” manufactured building products […]
How Seasonal Demand Affects Lumber Pricing
What comes to your mind when you think of lumber pricing? Is it confusion or maybe even frustration? Well, we’d like to help create a little more understanding through some education. We started in “What Factors Determine the Price of Lumber?” and continued in “How the Size of Boards Affects Lumber Pricing.” But there’s still […]
Ipe Wood – Facts about Brazilian Walnut
Ipe wood, also known as Brazilian Walnut, is a high-quality, durable and beautiful hardwood that is often used in decking, flooring, and outdoor furniture. It is a dense, heavy wood with a natural oiliness that makes it resistant to rot, decay, and insects. Its unique combination of strength, hardness, and durability makes it an ideal […]
How Shipping Costs & Order Size Affect Lumber Pricing
Lumber pricing gets a bad rap, and we understand why. No, really, we do. Not one of us likes to feel as if we’re paying more than we should be, and when pricing isn’t published or straightforward, it’s easy to feel skeptical. Well, no matter how much we wish we could, we cannot provide a […]
What Factors Determine the Price of Lumber?
It may be an understandable question, but it’s also a complicated one: What will my lumber cost? From the customer’s side, it seems simple, reasonable, straightforward. But from the lumber supplier’s standpoint, it’s actually pretty complex, requiring both analysis of the specific aspects of the order as well as synthesis of a variety of factors. […]
Ipe Wood: Premier Tropical Decking Material, Part 2
In our first installment of this series on Ipe wood, we took a look at some of the reasons why Ipe is so popular, especially as a decking material. These reasons included Ipe’s hardness, density, longevity, stability, uniform radial and tangential movement, fire and insect resistance, and availability in different sizes. In this article, we’ll […]
Marine Grade Plywood Options
If you’re in the market for marine grade plywood, it’s important to communicate with your dealer about your requirements. If your dealer doesn’t ask you for more information, don’t walk — run the other way. There’s so much variation within the general category of what’s allowed to be considered “marine grade,” that you could easily […]
Good News for Rainforests: Green Building with Exotic Lumber, Part 3
Despite what some environmentalists would have you believe (and may truly believe themselves), buying exotic lumber is actually very good for the environment. If you’ve been reading our mini-series about how buying exotic lumber actually benefits the health of Rainforests and, in turn, the global ecological scenario, you’re realizing how beneficial the lumber import industry […]
Should I Use Ipe or Teak? Two High End Lumbers Explained
Ipe and Teak are two of the highest quality woods available today. These two lumbers are both prized for their beauty and durability, but despite their similarities, Ipe and Teak are two very different types of wood. If you are seeking a high end lumber option and are considering using Ipe or Teak for your […]
How Governmental Regulations & Lumber’s Origin Affect Lumber Pricing
We realize that lumber pricing can often seem like a conundrum, requiring some kind of mystery password to unlock its riddles. While the many factors that influence lumber pricing are far from simple or static, they are comprehensible to the average customer. They’re also complex and nuanced, though, and explaining that to each individual customer […]
Ipe Wood: Premier Tropical Decking Material, Part 1
Ipe is in high demand for both commercial and residential decking projects. Once you become familiar with the benefits of this Brazilian tropical hardwood species, chances are you won’t have any trouble understanding its continual growth in popularity. There are all sorts of reasons why everyone from lumber dealers to construction companies to end customers […]
Composite Decking or Tropical Decking: Which Is Best for Boardwalks? Part 3
You might be able to get away with using composite decking products on small residential decks. But when it comes to large-scale areas open to the public, you really don’t want to risk it. In addition to the 6 reasons we already looked at in Part 1 and Part 2, we have some words for […]
Good News for Rainforests: Green Building with Exotic Lumber, Part 2
As we all know, conventional wisdom isn’t always accurate: such is the case when it comes to evaluating environmentally friendly building products. Despite many people’s beliefs to the contrary, buying exotic lumber is actually good for the environment. Yes, really. As we continue our discussion of how the lumber industry promotes healthy rain forests — […]